State Police arrested two New Iberia people last week and accused them of trafficking a child for sexual purposes.
Derrick Hall, 39, and Shaena Kelly, 21, were booked in connection with the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit (SVU) investigation, a spokesman said.
The investigation began in October 2018 when Investigators with SVU received information from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office regarding a juvenile female that had been trafficked in Iberia and Lafayette Parishes.
During the course of the investigation, Investigators learned that the victim was physically forced to engage in sexual activity, and was also transported to Texas to engage in sexual activity. Investigators were able to identify Hall and Kelly as the persons responsible for the trafficking, and arrest warrants were obtained for both through Iberia Parish, the spokesman said.
Friday, the Louisiana State Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit located and arrested Hall and Kelly in the Baton Rouge area. Both were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish jail as fugitives from Iberia Parish and will be transported to Iberia Parish to be booked on the outstanding warrants.
Hall will be booked with trafficking of children for sexual purposes and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
Kelly will be booked with trafficking of children for sexual purposes.
This investigation remains ongoing, and further charges may be pending. The LSP Criminal Intelligence Unit – Breaux Bridge and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted in this case, the spokesman said.
The LSP Special Victims Unit works in partnership with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and investigate child and adult sex and labor trafficking across Louisiana. The public plays an integral role in identifying suspects accused of these crimes, and is strongly urged to report criminal or suspicious activity. The Louisiana State Police online reporting system is available to the public through a convenient and secure reporting form that is submitted to the appropriate investigators. Citizens can access the form by visiting http://la-safe.org/ and clicking on the “Suspicious Activity” link.
